Styling Tips
I get asked a LOT about what to wear for photos. And after planning out what my own family should wear for shoots, I've come to realize this may be the hardest part of family pictures.
So here are my suggestions. First and foremost, you should wear what makes you comfortable and makes you feel like "you". When you feel confident in your outfit, it shows. A lot of the time I suggest you choose your outfit first and then build the families off your choice. So if you have a great pink dress you love, then run with that!
Next, think more about coordinating colors instead of matching. Choose a statement piece in a classic pattern and then pick the rest of the families outfits that draw from the colors in that outfit.
LAYER LAYER LAYER. Layers take the photo from great to wow! Instead of just jeans with a t-shirt, think about adding a vest, scarf or light jacket.
And then think texture. Knits, lace and fur all look great and add interest. Other options are quilted jackets, cords, or cute knee high socks for your little. Accessories are another way to add texture. Belts, wraps, ties, necklaces, etc.
And finally, don't forget to think about footwear. Dirty old runners, or pink Dora crocs will not look cute. :)
AVOID large logos. These are super distracting and take the viewers focus away from the person. Avoid neons, they do not photograph well (terrible color casts) and they make the person wearing them stick out. Avoid everyone wearing dark colors. When you're all cuddled up, you end up just looking like a dark blob which I'm sure isn't the look you're going for. And lastly, avoid ball caps if at all possible. They create hard shadows on the face.
For example, white, grey, navy and red. Or tan, cream, mustard & dark green. Or all neutrals like tan, creme, brown. You can find hundreds of examples on Pinterest.
By adding the three neutrals you can be sure every person is able to find something without running to the store to buy all new clothes.
If you do plan to buy some new pieces think about getting them from the same store. A lot of times retailers release collections every season and the pieces are easy to coordinate together.
When planning what to wear for a large group of people, I normally suggest picking how dressed up or casual you're going and then choosing 4-5 colors for everyone to run with. I would choose 3 neutrals and then add 1-2 pops of color.
With that being said, you don't really need/want to be wearing a winter coat. Winter coats are often super puffy (ie not the most flattering) and kids seem to be in crazy colors and patterns a lot of the time. Fall coats are often a better choice and look great kept open and used as a layering piece.
That being said, layering is key. It not only looks great but will keep you warmer. Blankets, scarves, touques and mitts are a cute winter accessories and even if you don't want them in every photo you can put them on part way through your shoot to change up the look.
I LOVE winter photos. It almost feels magical to me. Especially when there's a fresh blanket on snow on everything.
If you plan on doing winter photos, keep in mind that we will be taking breaks in the vehicle to warm up. A lot of times I will choose a couple locations which will allow some driving time between the spots to warm up.
I hope this helps you out! And as always if you have any questions feel free to contact me!